Rams rue missed chances in 26-23 first-round exit

BY DANIEL SCHMIDT

FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN

VALLEY —  After missing out on the playoffs last year, the Valley High School football team had found itself in the midst of a renaissance of sorts. The Rams had regained their footing in 5A Region 4 en route to a second-place finish and hosted Shelby County High School in the first round of the playoffs.

VHS (7-4) will now have to wait at least one more year for a picture-perfect ending after a heartbreaking 26-23 loss to the Wildcats (7-4) at Ram Stadium on Nov. 7 in a game that saw them ahead in the fourth quarter.

After both teams traded punts to begin the game, it quickly became the Brandez Eason show as the senior running back powered the Rams down the field and opened the scoring with a 4-yard TD plunge. That run gave VHS a 7-0 lead with 4:34 left in the first quarter.

Later in the quarter, SCHS’ Andres McGinnis intercepted a Valley pass and returned it to the VHS six yard line. Soon after, the Wildcats found the end zone with a bruising six-yard TD run by Eli Carlisle. A failed two-point conversion attempt allowed the Rams to maintain a 7-6 lead with just under three minutes left in the first quarter.

From there, the game became a defensive slugfest for the remainder of the first quarter and the opening minutes of the second quarter. That was until Eason again powered the Rams’ offense and notched his second TD of the game with a gritty two-yard run on fourth and goal.

With VHS now up 14-6 with 7:42 left in the second quarter, the Rams’ defense flexed its muscle and forced a quick stop that gave them the ball back. However, a costly fumble several plays into the drive gave the Wildcats the ball at the VHS 24 yard line.

Following the turnover, it took SCHS just two plays to cut into the Rams’ lead with a 24-yard TD pass from Ryan Sipes to Dominic Woods. Another failed two-point conversion attempt allowed VHS to maintain a 14-12 lead with 4:40 left before halftime.

Unable to stop the Rams’ rushing attack, the Wildcats elected to attempt a surprise onside kick, which was successful and gave SCHS the ball at the VHS 48 yard line. Despite the adversity, the Rams’ defense stood strong and eventually forced a turnover on downs with a fourth down stop at their own 30 yard line.

With just over a minute left before halftime, Eason then ripped off his most impressive run of the evening on the next play with a powerful 70-yard TD scamper. That quick-hitting score elicited an explosive cheer from the home crowd and put the Rams up 21-12.

Coming out of halftime, the Wildcats found their resolve several plays into their opening drive with a long pass from Sipes to McGinnis that advanced the ball to the VHS 20 yard line. Devan Alexander later capped off the possession with a three-yard rushing TD that cut VHS’ lead to 21-19 with 8:16 left in the third quarter.

As the game tightened, players from both teams became painfully aware of the situation and stakes, and both offenses found it difficult to consistently move the chains. Then, it appeared the Rams would again extend their lead after several explosive plays from Eason got VHS down to the SCHS one yard line.

The scoring opportunity was not meant to be after the Wildcats’ defense secured a goalline stand and left the Rams’ offense empty-handed as time dwindled in the third quarter.

After the two teams traded punts, it appeared Rams’ punter Kade Riley made one of the plays of the game with a punt that pinned SCHS deep inside their own territory early in the fourth quarter. That ultimately led to a safety, extending VHS’ lead to 23-19 with just under 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

However, the Rams’ good fortune soon became misfortune after a fumble on the ensuing VHS drive gave the Wildcats possession at their own 28 yard line.

Following some early defensive resistance from the Rams, Tyson Duncan ripped off a nearly 80-yard TD run that gave the Wildcats a 26-23 lead – their first of the entire game – with around eight minutes left to play in the game.

Despite being forced to punt on their next drive, VHS found a glimmer of hope toward the very end of the fourth quarter after forcing a SCHS punt with just over a minute and a half remaining.

That final possession proved fruitless as a relentless Wildcats defense forced a turnover on downs and ended what had been a promising season for the Rams.